Labor Day. Hot! New PR! This race was very hard for me both mentally and physically. I ran it to gauge my fitness after reaching the half-way point in my 24 week training plan. The base is established - now the speed work begins. Hopefully I will see a significant improvement after interval training! Race Results:

I ran a marathon! Without a doubt, it was the hardest thing I have ever done. After mile 20, it hurt to run, hurt to walk, and hurt to be passed, so I struck the best compromise I could, while saving a little bit for the sprint at the finish line. The race was January 7, 2007. Race Results:

November 5, 2006. I decided to enter this race instead of the 8 mile run I had scheduled. Racing is more fun than running alone, plus I was able to set a new personal record of 1:01:14 for the 10K. I started off with a pace that would have let me finish in well under an hour, but I could not sustain it. That goal will have to wait for next time. Race Results:

I ran the Long Beach ICB Half Marathon on October 15, 2006, having been invited by friends Brad and Judy Corr. Unlike the Camp Pendelton course, this one was paved and pretty flat, with beautiful views of downtown Long Beach, the harbor, Queen Mary, etc. I kept a steady 12 minute pace for the first 10 miles, then stepped up to an 11 minute pace until the finish. I felt good the whole way and was able to finish strong. I know I could have gone a little faster, but it would not have been nearly as much fun. Race Results:

My first half-marathon was Heartbreak Ridge, September 16, 2006. This was an out and back course on a packed fire road in Camp Pendelton. Even though it was out in the middle of nowhere, the marines had water and aid stations every 2 miles. My friend Ethan "Ironman" Luu also entered, but I only saw him at the start and near the turn-around point. I ran the first 5 miles in 1 hour flat and the first 10 miles in 2:05:19, not fast but good for me. Right after that I cracked on a big hill, and had to walk it and several other smaller hills on the way to the finish. I had a few aches and pains during the race, but I thought I finished in pretty good shape for my first half on such a tough course. Race Results:

My next race, a 5K with rolling hills, was on Memorial Day, 2006. I started too fast trying to keep up with my friend Rory Williams, and suffered the whole way. I was disappointed to discover that my time was only 40 seconds faster than my 5K in February, but as long as I keep improving and don't injure myself, I can't really complain. Race Results:

My third race, and this time I worked hard for the entire distance. I was sick and lost almost 2 weeks of training right before the race, but I still managed to improve my time by more than 1 minute over my last 10K. I might have done even better if I had not started too fast and run out of gas near the end. Race Results:

My second race was a 10K. The date was actually March 26, not the 27th. Anyway, I was unsure how I would do in a race twice as long as the last one, so I set a goal to simply finish. That goal was probably not ambitious enough since I did not really work hard in this race. I started slow and was able to pick up the pace considerably at the 5 mile mark. I could hear people talking after I passed them saying things like, "Is he running the 5K?" In hindsight, I probably should have picked up the pace after 3 miles. Race Results:

My first race - a 5K. I had just finished a 12 week "Couch to 5K" training program given to me by my friend, Ethan "Ironman" Luu. He also entered this race, which was right on Pacific Coast Highway and very flat. Not knowing how to pace myself, I got caught up in the excitement and went all out, so I was looking for the finish line before reaching the half-way point. My heart was at it's maximum capacity of 184 beats per minute for the last 15 minutes, but luckily it did not explode. I was very happy to have met (though only barely) my goal of finishing in less than 30 minutes. Race Results: